Real estate news & trends

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A tipster alerted me this morning that an individual with a lengthy criminal record is applying, using an alias, to work as a leasing agent at some of Chicago’s rental services. My rental service tipster became suspicious and determined that the individual who’d applied for a leasing agent position was actually Kenneth W. Arron. You ...

Chicago rental services would like you to believe that they have an inside track on scheduling showings at Chicago’s apartment towers. They don’t. The rental services would also like you to believe that they can negotiate a better deal than you’ll get on your own. They can’t. In fact, in almost every case they’ve explicitly ...

According to an ABC 7 report, Martin Vigil has been charged with misdemeanor assault, leaving the scene of an accident, and criminal damage to property following the incident in the above video. Vigil is a leasing agent / manager with Chicago Real Estate LLC, one of the rental services on YoChicago’s do-not-call list. As of ...

The leasing office and four furnished models are now open at Jeff Jack, a new West Loop apartment tower at 601 W Jackson. JeffJack is offering a month’s free rent on 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. The new OneEleven apartment tower has spectacular north views over the river, and a 3-bedroom available now for $4,600. Ask ...

Planned Property is offering a month’s free rent on all 2-bedroom apartments at 1000 North LaSalle, a building with a private dog park. Chestnut Tower is offering a month’s free on vacant two-bedrooms for leases beginning by April 12. All apartments currently on the market are brand new designer renovations featuring new cabinetry, wood plank ...

3838 North Broadway has just undergone a complete renovation and has stylish new studios available from $855 a month. 2756 North Pine Grove is waiving its dog deposit and dog rent and offering $300 off the 1st month’s rent on rehabbed one-bedrooms renting from $1,425 and rehabbed two-bedrooms that start at $1,915. The popular Yolk ...

Advertising a lower rent than what’s actually available in a building is only one of the many ways that Chicago rental services trawl for renters. Advertising a “net rent” when a building is offering a month or more of free rent is another way to deceive unsophisticated renters into calling or emailing. The typical free ...

The new OneEleven apartment tower has spectacular north views over the river, and 1-bedrooms available now from $2,400.. The leasing office and four furnished models are now open at Jeff Jack, a new West Loop apartment tower at 601 W Jackson. JeffJack is offering a month’s free rent on 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. Sign a ...

We’ve written about Chicagoland Property Group (“CPG”) a number of times, and singled the firm out as the most prolific source of spam apartment ads at Craigslist. CPG accounts for nearly 1 in every 10 City of Chicago apartment ads at Craigslist, with 5,750 ads as of yesterday afternoon for a shockingly small number of ...

Webster Square Apartments opened just shy of a year ago and rented up quickly. As leases expire, apartments are becoming available. A 1-bedroom rents at $2,778 and a 3-bedroom, 3-bath at $8,000. Four 2-bedroom, 2-baths are available from $3,325 to $3,839. Newly-renovated one-bedrooms are available at Reside Living’s Irving Courts, starting at $1,295 a month. ...

As the rental season kicks into high gear Chicago tenants can expect to have rental service agents barging into their apartments without prior notice. A recent comment: I just woke up to an agent walking in unannounced. I venture to say they don’t do this in Texas, lol. In an earlier post we outlined your ...

Many of Chicago’s rental services won’t show MLS-listed condo rentals even though they’re often priced below apartments in managed buildings. The simple reason is that the rental service would need to split the commission, which is usually a month’s rent, with the listing broker. If you’re willing to spend $3,000 a month renting an apartment, ...

The Illinois Real Estate License Act prohibits “blind advertisements,” i.e. ads that do not contain the name of the broker licensee that placed the ad. The Act also provides that “Advertising shall be considered misleading or untruthful if, when taken as a whole, there is a distinct and reasonable possibility that it will be misunderstood ...

The West Loop‘s Circa 922,, 922 W Washington, is offering two months free rent on new studio and 1-bedroom apartments and a month on new 2-bedrooms. Renters must take occupancy by April 24, 2015 to qualify for the free rent offer. The leasing office and four furnished models are now open at Jeff Jack, a ...

The on-site leasing office and model apartments are now open at North Water, a 52-story apartment tower at 340 E North Water in Streeterville. North Water is a full-amenity view building with sweeping vistas in every direction. Apartments are available for March 1 and later occupancy. Chestnut Place, 850 N State, is offering a month’s ...

Reside on Barry is a pet-friendly high-rise at 533 W Barry, steps from the lively Broadway strip of bars, restaurants and shops. A renovated 2-bedroom is available for $2,075 on the 16th floor with south-facing skyline views. The apartment has wood-look floors, a stylish kitchen with ample cabinet and counter space, a renovated bath and ...

500 Lake Shore Drive sent the following email to rental services / apartment locators / apartment finders last Saturday morning: Subject: Craigslist Postings at 500 Lake Shore Drive Good Afternoon, As you all know, we have recently switched over to the LRO pricing model. With this pricing model, pricing fluctuates daily based on several factors ...

There are only 16 apartment complexes in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood and you’ll find all of them on YoChicago’s at-a-glance list. The list gives you a snapshot of the types of apartments in each building, the building’s pet policy, and whether it has in-unit washer / dryers, a pool and on-site parking. YoChicago’s at-a-glance list links ...

You’re a young, unemployed college dropout contemplating your career options. You’ve been reading Craigslist ads from Chicago rental services that promise “unlimited earnings potential” and a “rewarding career.” You’ve also been considering becoming an Uber driver. After researching the rental service vs Uber decision, here are some of the reasons why you decided to become ...